No thanks. I own a ton of Kershaws and Spydercos and plan to own more (some of which are, of course, made in China and Taiwan). But unless a company (located anywhere) is actually counterfeiting (i.e., representing their cheap knives as produced by another company) or trying to deceive me about a product, it's up to Benchmade (or whoever) to enforce whatever trademark, copyright or patent rights they have or think they have. I'm sure there are lots of reasons not to do so, even if they think their rights are being trodden upon. But that's Benchmade's economic decision to make.
My view is that there's nothing immoral about copying a design that doesn't have legal protections. That's why so many things look like so many other things. You'll find suits that look almost exactly like Armani-designed and produced suits but cost hundreds and hundreds less. Laptops mimic more expensive laptops. There's no dishonor in honest imitation nor in trying to ride the shirttails of economically successful designs.
And my view on the legal protections is that patent is not at issue (though I don't know how the Ganzo version of the Axis lock works), trademark is not at issue (the mark is "AXIS" (all caps) and not the ordinary English word "Axis") and copyright is not at issue (these are all mass-produced knives and not artistic or sculptural works, unlike a custom-designed knife).
But you are free to make your purchasing choices based on whatever criteria you wish. As am I.
